MANCHESTER, IOWA — The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it is investigating a claim by The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) a California animal rights group, which won two lawsuits against the Cricket Hollow Zoo in previous years, charges that one of zoo’s lions was subjected to animal cruelty before being transferred to a Colorado sanctuary.

The lioness, Jonwah, was in a state of being abnormally thin or weak — visible bones and vertebrae — likely caused by extreme hunger and dehydration, ALDF said in a statement last month.

A federal judge ordered the Sellners to permit a qualified veterinarian to examine Jonwah and Njjarra, and the settlement followed that examination. On Aug. 1, the lions were transferred to the Colorado sanctuary.

In July, after ALDF settled its second lawsuit against Cricket Hollow zoo, Wildlife Planet questioned why this suit was settled, instead of moving forward and closing this abomination down?

The lion, after being removed from Cricket Hollow, required emergency veterinary treatment because the hay, which is used for bedding and can’t be digested property, caused a “severe” intestinal blockage. The treatment saved her life, the group said in the statement.

The defense fund believes the poor treatment of the animal violates Iowa’s animal neglect law, according to Jeff Pierce, an attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Iowa law states that animal neglect occurs when a person confines an animal and fails to supply the animal with sufficient food or water; fails to provide a confined dog or cat with adequate shelter; or tortures, deprives of necessary sustenance, mutilates, beats or kills an animal “by any means that cause unjustified pain, distress or suffering.”

The organization contacted the sheriff’s office in October and urged it to investigate. A sanctuary veterinarian’s medical evaluation of Jonwah, along with photographs of the lion, were sent to the sheriff’s office.

A person can be charged with a simple misdemeanor for animal neglect or a serious misdemeanor if the neglect causes an animal’s death or serious injury.

“Jonwah and Njjarra (another rescued lion) are in good hands now, but what happened at Cricket Hollow is clearly against the law,” Stephen Wells, executive director of the defense fund group said in a statement.

Sheriff John LeClere said this month he has forwarded evidence of the alleged neglect to the Delaware County Attorney’s Office to see if charges are warranted against the Sellners.

LeClere said the Iowa county prosecutor had requested further information.

The Sellners and their attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

“The Animal Legal Defense Fund is hopeful that law enforcement will take this evidence seriously and hold Cricket Hollow to the standards of Iowa law.Related Article